I wanted to give special homemade Christmas cards to immediate family and grandparents, because I wanted it to be special for them from Ava. I think I worked too hard on this project, but it turned out so cute, that I’m glad I did it. Ava’s contribution was the snowflakes. Each snowflake was made with her darling little finger dipped in paint.
This project is great for little ones because they get to stick, stick, stick, and at the end you can actually say that they were the ones who really made it. Ava made hers at the end of Storytime at our local library. Unfortunately, I didn’t take a picture of it before we gave it away to Grandma, but the stained glass window pictured here (stolen off the Internet) is very similar to Ava’s.
Preparation:
1) Cut a frame out of construction paper or cardstock.
2) Cut two pieces of contact paper the same size or a little smaller than the outer dimensions of the frame.
3) Cut different colors of cellophane into pieces or shapes. (Older children might enjoy doing this step themselves.)
Steps:
1) Peel the backing from one of the pieces of contact paper and lay it on the table (sticky side up!).
2) Next, attach the frame by lining it up and laying it on top of the contact paper.
3) Now your child can go crazy placing the different pieces of cellophane all over the contact paper.
4) When junior is finished, remove the backing from the the second piece of contact paper and lay it (sticky side down) over the layer of cellophane. Now the colors are sealed in. Finish by trimming any stray cellophane pieces that ended up sticking past the edge of the frame, and Ta-da! Pretty artwork for your window (or Grandma’s)!
While I was selecting a CD to get my sleepy head going this morning, I came across a christian CD my dad put together for me before I left home to go to college. On the CD, Dad put my favorite songs at the time. I don’t recall realizing then that the songs all had a similar message, but today when I was listening to it again, I noticed an underlying theme of conviction, strength in the Lord, and God’s power. It made me smile this morning to reflect on my new discovery that these messages were my favorites when I was coming out of high school and entering college. Needless to say, I enjoyed the songs today – almost ten years later – and I was encouraged by their words, just as I was then. One of the songs on the CD is Aaron Jeoffrey’s “He Is”. I found a video of it online to share with you…
I am loving our new home in Spring Hill. I have been happily busy with decorating, organizing, and getting into a daily routine. While Tim was traveling these past two weeks preaching in revival services in Dayton and Grimsley, Ava and I plugged into our local library where we began attending weekly “Storytime”, took walks around our neighborhood, found my favorite stores, hung out with family, played at the park, and enjoyed our quiet time at home. One of my personal favorite times of day was just after Ava had been put safely in bed for the night and I had the whole quiet and clean house to myself. I loved lighting scented candles, turning on soft music, adjusting the lamp light, and doing (or not doing) whatever I wanted.
There have been times – as I’m sure you have also experienced in some fashion – when after turning out my daughter’s bedroom lamp for the night and before making it into the hallway where I could see, I tripped in the darkness over a stray toy that didn’t get put away. This may be a simple and unoriginal comparison, but it’s good to know that although I can’t see in the dark – God can. Sometimes we face darkness in our lives – maybe you are confused and fearful, maybe you are facing a difficult time in your life, maybe you are battling discouragement, maybe you don’t know Jesus as your personal Savior. We can’t see in the dark, and that can be scary. It’s a lot easier to trip and fall when we are walking in the dark. The great news is that God can see perfectly in the dark. He isn’t scared, He isn’t confused, and He has uninhibited vision. When you find yourself surrounded by darkness, you can take complete comfort in knowing that God specializes in working in the dark. After all – HE IS the LIGHT.
“The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me – a prayer to the God of my life.” – Psalm 42:8
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
– Philippians 4:4-7
Aren’t these encouraging words? I come back to them over and over again. In difficult times, these are words of courage and strength. In happy times, they are a testimony of God’s greatness and care for us.
As I was packing Ava’s room, I came across her little momentos I have saved… letters to her, special cards, footprints, the journal I kept when I was pregnant with her, and then I found a bag with three pregnancy tests in it. One test was Ava’s, one was the baby’s before her, and the other was the baby’s before that. Waves of emotion swept over me as I thought about and longed for the little babies I miscarried. Maybe it is because I have now been a mother for over a year that I cried for them for the first time since we lost them.
As I allowed myself a few moments to miss them and love them, I also remembered how good God was to Tim and me when we were going through all the discouraging doctors visits, the roller coaster of having hope and trying to accept reality, the pain of losing them, and the fear of the future. I recall very vividly the times I rocked and I prayed that God would touch our baby and let it live. And I recall just as vividly the genuine comfort I felt from the Lord and the knowledge He was right there with me and that He understood. In the middle of the hurt, I knew that He was with me and that He was good.
Your valley may be very different from mine, but whatever journey you are making, you can know that God is still good. He still loves you. He still has great plans for you. You may not understand; and that’s the beauty of it – God’s goodness is not dependent on your understanding. Who He is, isn’t dependent on your grasp of His greatness. God isn’t who you make Him up in your mind to be, and your questions don’t make God smaller. It’s wonderful and liberating to know – God is Who He is.
Deuteronomy 7:21
“The Lord your God, who is among you, is a great and awesome God.”1 Chronicles 16:43
“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.”
“…He who is coming is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” -Matthew 3:11
In the verse above, John the Baptist was speaking about something that he would soon experience. He would soon see Jesus Christ in person, face to face. John would even baptize Jesus in water and John would see those sandals of which he said, “I am not worthy to carry.”
We often see footage on television of fans who are absolutely crazy for a particular famous person. Anything of that person’s is incredibly special to them. A look, a handshake, a piece of paper they walked over in the street – anything is a really big deal.
I personally know the greatest man who ever walked the earth…and I don’t have to beg Him for an autograph. We are friends. He talks to me, cares about me, comforts me, and gives me strength. And yet, I can relate to John who said he wasn’t worthy to even carry Jesus’ sandals. Who are we that we should be receivers of God’s wonderful grace and His holy power? Jesus chose to endure a horrible death to save me and you. How amazing!
So, while everyone else is busy bidding on signed baseballs, purchasing backstage passes, and screaming til they’re hoarse, I am going to spend some one-on-one time with the King of kings…Jesus Christ. And one day, when I see Him, He’ll not only recognize me, but He will welcome me to the place He has been preparing for me – to be with Him forever.
On his MySpace, my husband answered the question, “Who would you most like to meet?” with an answer that I know he means sincerely…
“Jesus Christ.”
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me [Jesus]. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” – John 14:1-3
Our little explorer started walking on her own last week. Her steps are few and infrequent, but they are steps none the less. And the time she doesn’t spend walking, she makes up for by climbing the stairs. I can’t count how many times a day she makes a break for the stairs, gets to the third step, then looks to see if I am running after her so we can have a good race (which of course she always wins).
As Ava begins discovering her world from a new vantage point, I will be doing a lot less carrying of her and a lot more hand holding. Sometimes we read a book together called “If You Hold My Hand” which tells the story of a little bunny who feels very small and scared in the great big world and will only go on adventures like playing on the playground, walking through the woods and swimming in the ocean, if his mother holds his hand. In the last line of the book, the little bunny says to his mother, “I can do anything if you hold my hand.”
It’s such a sweet thought, to picture a little child looking into your face and knowing that they are safe as long as you are with them. I imagine this must be how our heavenly Father feels about us. Whatever the adventure you are embarking on today…whether you are starting back to school, facing a rough day at work, or something completely different, God is there and He wants to hold your hand. To let you know that it’s okay. That He is here. That He cares. That He will protect you. That you don’t have to be afraid. He’s just saying, “You can do anything if you hold my hand.”
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Philippians 4:13
As an American, as a Christian, and as a person with a conscience, I want to be vocal about my view on the upcoming Presidential election. I believe it is irresponisible for me to not exercise my right as an American and my convictions as a Christian. I care about this nation, and I respect and appreciate all who have served (in many ways) this country, and I care about the future of my children and their children. How can I not take a stand?
“I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it; to support its Constitution; to obey its laws; to respect its flag; and to defend it against all enemies.” – The American’s Creed
So, let me just say it… My plan is to vote for McCain. Why? McCain’s beliefs and ideas are not all that I would hope them to be, and in many areas they are very disappointing. However, he is much closer to my beliefs, ideas, and convictions, than Obama. When one looks at Obama’s votes on issues and his public stand, Obama is more liberal and radical than even most democrats. His beliefs and his ideas are completely against the Biblical perspective and and I have no doubt whatsoever that they will lead to the moral destruction of our country and our families.
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” – Psalm 33:12
So, what do you believe? In what direction do you want this country to head? For whom will you vote?
It’s funny how life comes at you like a classical symphony. Tempos and tunes change throughout the piece, but it all sounds beautiful together. Sometimes the music is lighthearted and seems to fly, while other times the music sounds richer and deep.
For my family, the month of June had it’s very own tune. It was characterized by unique events, plans, and fun… We all enjoyed a beach vacation with Tim’s parents, Tim evangelized at West Virginia youth camp (Praise the Lord for 19 teens who received the Lord Jesus Christ into their hearts!), Ava got her cast off, I planned and taught Ladies Day and planned a small group lesson, we hosted family at our home, and we celebrated our little Ava’s first birthday with a party.
Then, July came and the tune of our orchestra changed as we took on responsibilities that came all at one time… financial decisions, planning, research into new policies, paperwork that must be done, appointments of all sorts, Tim’s summer class, and so on.
I don’t know what the next month will hold, but I’m looking forward to it. Every day of our lives is one more beautiful bar of music that adds depth and interest to the overall piece. If our effort each day goes to glorifying the Lord, we will certainly create a wonderful symphony.
Since I was little, I have had an artistic eye. Balance, composition, space, color, and more words like them are just part of me – the way I think and what I see. I don’t just notice a tree – I see the shape of the tree, the color of its leaves against the shade of blue the sky happens to be that day, the lay of the land around the tree and where it takes my eye. All this information is taken in without any effort or intention.
Sometimes, we see the most beautiful, amazing sight while out in nature – the landscape becomes the most beautiful picture. Vivid colors, flowing composition, appropriate mood setting, and perfect balance and harmony. No photograph or painting could capture that moment. That place is real, you are there, you can feel it.
This morning as I was thanking God for such a pleasant, merry spring day, I was struck with the awesomeness of how beautiful heaven must be. It is so much more beautiful than even the most gorgeous place I have ever seen or visited. My artistic-driven mind cannot even comprehend how perfect heaven looks and feels. In heaven, there must be colors that are even more brilliant and different than any color we have ever seen – colors that I cannot imagine.
Consider that “color” as we see it, is scientifically explainable. Color is visually percepted in humans, it comes from the spectrum of light (distribution of light energy versus wavelength), and it interacts with the capabilities of the human eye. The colors we see are based on the way God created the earth and our bodies.
We know that on earth there are laws of nature that God put in motion (such as gravity) and many things he changed in nature after the great flood in Noah’s day (see Genesis chapter 9). But we also know that in heaven these laws do not have dominion and we will have “glorified bodies.”
So, who can imagine how beautiful and wonderful heaven is? In my human body, I can only trust God and know that it is beyond anything I can ask or imagine. I’m glad the Creator of the universe is my friend and I will be there with Him soon because Jesus lives in my heart. God’s ways are perfect and His colors are amazing.